Plate-holder for photographic cameras



(No Model.)

M. PLAMMANG.

PLATE HOLDER FOR PHOTOGRAPHIG CAMERAS. No. 271,826. Patented Feb. 6,1883.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

MATHIAS FLAMMANG, OF NEWARK, NEXV JERSEY.

PLATE-HOLDER FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC CAMERAS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 27 1,826, dated February 6, 1883.

Application filed December 28, 1881.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MATHIAS FLAMMANG,

of Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Plate-Holders for Photographic Cameras, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my present improvements is to produce a photographic-plate holder neat and compact, and having as few projections as possible, so that it may be conveniently carried in the pocket of a photographer.

To this end the improvements consist in the combination, with the frame and dark-slide of a photographic-plate holder and a head or stopper-attached to its outer end, of a springcatch adapted to be operated by the hand in grasping the head or stopper and a device on the frame of the holder for engaging the catch.

They also consist in a photographicplate holder frame, a door fitting snugly within the same at opposite edges, a tongue and groove or recess for securing said door to the frame at one of the intermediate edges, and means, which do not project beyond the side of the door and frame, for securing the door at the other of the intermediate edges, all being so combined and organized that the door may be detached without any edgewise movement, except in the direction of the depth or width of said tongue and groove or recess. Both inter mediate edges of the door are preferably secured by tongues or their equivalents and grooves or recesses, and in such case one of the tongues and its groove or recess may be deeper or widerthan the other, so that the door may be engaged with the frame by first placing the deeper tongue or equivalent in its groove or recess, then pressing the door into its frame, and finally sliding thevdoor edgewise to effect the engagement of the opposite tongue or its equivalent with its groove or recess, as more fully hereinafter described.

They also consist in the combination, with the frame and door of a photographic plate holder, of means for fastening opposite edges of the door to opposite edges of the frame and a spring acting against the inner face of the door, whereby when the door is released at one edge it will be pushed outward from the frame, so that it may be easily grasped.

(No model.)

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a back view of a photographic-plate holder embodying my improvement-s. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the same, and Fig. 3 is a transverse section thereof.

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures.

A designates the frame of the photographicplate holder. It is provided with a rabbet, a, for the reception of a photographic plate, B, a rahbet, b, in rear of the former, for the reception of the door 0, and a slideway, 0, forward of the rabbet a, for the reception of the darkslide D. The door 0 may be made of any suitable material, and fits snugly between the ends or opposite upright edges of the frame. At one intermediate or longitudinal edge it is pro "ided with a deep or wide tongue, (I, and at the opposite intermediate or longitudinal edge with a shallower or narrower tongue, 0. The corresponding edges of the frame have grooves or recesses d 0, corresponding with the said tongues. To fasten the door in the frame, the tongue at is inserted in the groove (1, and the door is pressed into its rabbet I). Then the door is moved edgewise transversely to the length of the tongues and grooves or recesses to cause its tongue 0 to engage with the groove 0. The tongue (I and groove (1 are deep or wide enough to remain in engagement after the tongue 0 and groove 0 have thus been engaged. It will be observed that in removing or replacing the door no movement thereof lengthwise of the tongues and grooves or recesses is necessary.

E designates a spring, which acts directly between the frame and door to force the latter in such direction as to effect and maintain the engagement of the tongue and groove 0 c. It is obvious that the grooves may be in the door and the tongues on the frame with like results. On the inner side of the door is a spring,f, which bears on the photographic plate and holds it snugly in its rabbet. This spring acts against the inner face of the door and subserves the additional purpose of pushing the door outward when it is slid transversely in such direction that its tongue e will he disengaged from the groove 6. When this takes place the door may be easily grasped to lift it out. It will be observed that I thus provide means for fastening the door which do not project beyond the side of the plate-holder. This is very desirable, as the plateholder may then be carried more conveniently in the pocket of the photographer. The same result may be obtained, at least to some extent, by providing the door with countersunk catches, buttons, or bolts, which may be manipulated through indentations in the door; but the tongues and grooves are more desirable, as they form lap'joints, whereby light is efi'ectually excluded.

the dark-slide D is provided at the outer end with a head or stopper, D. This head or stopper is provided with a spring-catch, g, whose free end is adapted to engage with a staple, strap, or like device, h, on the frame. By pressing the tree end of this catch toward the head or stopper when the latter is grasped it maybe disengaged from the staple, strap, or other device, It. The end of the catch may be rounded, so as to automatically engage with the said (leVit'B when the head or stopper is pushed toward the frame. This fastening is much preferable to one which projects beyond the sides of the frame, as it better adapts the plate-holder to be carried in the pocket of the photographer, and it is often very desirable to so carry a plate-holder when dry-plates are used.

I do not wish to claim broadly the combination, with the frame and dark slide of a pho tographic-plate holder, of a self-acting springcatch or lock, whereby the slide will he automatically locked when inserted in the frame.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with theframe and dark-, slide of a photographic-plate holder and a head or stopper attached to its outer end, of a springcatch adapted to be operated by the hand in grasping the head or stopper and a device on the frame of the holder for engaging the catch, substantially as specified.

2. The combination, with the frame A of a photographic-plate holder, provided with a staple or strap, h, of a dark-slide, D, provided with a head or stopper, D, and a spring-catch, g, substantially as specified.

3. A [)llOiOgItl-pl]lC-l)lk1i=ll0ldl frame, a door fitting snugly within the same at opposite edges, a tongue and groove or recess for securing said door to the frame at one of'its intermediate edges, and means, which do not pro ject beyond the outer side of the door and frame, for securing the door at the Oiltel' of the intermediate edges, all being so combined and organized that the door may be detached withoutany edgewise movement,except in the direction of the depth or width of said tongue and groove or recess, substantially as specified.

4. The'combinatio'n of the frame A, provided with grooves or recesses d e, the former being deeper or wider'than the latter, the door (J, provided with tongues (Z c, or their equivalents, the former being deeper or wider than the latter, and the door being made to fit snugly between the sides of the frame, which are unprovided with grooves or recesses, substantially as specified.

5. The combination, with the frame and door of a photographic-plate holder, of means for fastening opposite edgesof the door to opposite edges of the frame and a spring acting against the inner face of the door, whereby when the door is released at one edge it will be pushed outward from the frame, so that it may be easily grasped, substantially as specified.

M. FLAMMANG.

'Witnesses:

T. J. KEANE, Janus 1t. BOWEN. 

